Abstract This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of integrating floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) systems with pumped storage hydropower (PSH) in Nepal's grid-connected microgrids. Nepal's mountainous topography provides numerous potential sites for hydroelectric storage, yet the integration of FSPV with PSH remains largely unexplored. We develop a mathematical model for optimal system operation under time-of-day (TOD) electricity pricing, employing linear programming for daily scheduling and particle swarm optimization (PSO) for component sizing. The techno-economic analysis includes calculating the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for both solar generation and energy storage options. Our results demonstrate that FSPV-PSH integration, particularly utilizing existing reservoirs, can reduce operational costs and enhance electricity reliability compared to conventional grid supply, even in Nepal's subsidized electricity market. We also assess a small-scale building-integrated system, finding that without TOD pricing, battery storage outperforms small PSH systems economically. This research provides valuable insights for leveraging Nepal's abundant water and solar resources through innovative hybrid renewable energy systems.
Poudel et al. (Fri,) studied this question.